The world’s largest mining convention is coming to Toronto in March. Are you ready?
The Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC), organizes the world’s largest mining convention every year in Toronto in March and carries out lobbying efforts in favour of the Canadian mining industry throughout the rest of the year. They describe themself as “the leading voice of the mineral exploration and development community” and claim to encourage “best practices in technical, operational, environmental, safety and social performance”. Meanwhile, Canadian mining companies are far and away the worst offenders in environmental, human rights and other abuses around the world (according to a global study commissioned by PDAC itself but never made public).
The PDAC convention is dedicated to telling compelling stories about the mining industry’s successes and innovations, especially in the realm of “corporate social responsibility” and sustainability. But we know better! Let’s not let them get away with using this convention as yet another shiny PR opportunity to cover up industry harms and repress dissent.
Join MISN at these 2 upcoming events (+ 1 other way to help out!):
PANEL EVENT – Belly of the Beast: A Biopsy of TO’s Mining & Financial Sectors
When: Friday, February 24th @ 7-9pm
Where: Friends House (60 Lowther Ave., TO)
Have you ever wondered about the connections that exist between Canada, the mining industry, and Toronto’s financial sector? Curious about how the Canadian government supports corporate interests both domestically and internationally?
Now’s your chance to learn more! Join the Mining Injustice Solidarity Network (MISN) for a panel discussion that dissects the “Belly of the Beast”: Toronto’s financial district and the reach of its tentacles throughout the global mining industry.
Panelists will flesh out the various tentacles of “the beast” and the web of its influence, including: corporate interests, the Toronto Stock Exchange, narratives of development and social responsibility, government (both local and international), the media, and the academy. They will demonstrate how these sectors work together to feed wealth into the beast’s belly, which is both controlled by and sustains big money and corporate power. This event will focus especially on the upcoming Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) convention and how all of these different players convene, make deals, and get energized at this annual gathering.
BUS TOUR – Toxic Toronto: a Bus Tour Through the Belly of the Beast
When: Sunday, March 5th, 12-3pm
MORE INFO HERE.
Register to reserve a spot here.
Jump on the bus on March 5th!
PDAC*, the largest gathering in the world for the global mineral industry, begins on March 5. Every year, over 25,000 people descend on the city of Toronto for this 85-year-old trade show and convention. Some have called PDAC the “Superbowl” or the “Oscars” of the extraction industry. But why does it happen here? What is it about Toronto that makes this city PDAC’s perfect home? It’s certainly no accident.
Join us on a bus tour through the “belly of the beast” to untangle the secret webs of power and money that connect our city to some of the most harmful and toxic mining and extractive projects around the world.
WE’LL EXPLORE:
- What exactly is going on in those shiny skyscrapers on Bay Street
- The Toronto Stock Exchange – happens there and why it is the best place on earth to raise capital for extractive projects
- The headquarters of some of the world’s biggest corporate villains
- The sites of inspiring direct actions and other forms of resistance – where and how Torontonians are fighting back!
- The connections that exist between big money and investment here in Toronto and controversial industrial projects all over the world
The tour will end with a rally outside the PDAC convention. Wanna learn more? Hop on the bus!
Can’t make it out in person? Help us #DisruptPDAC by joining the Thunderclap!
est mining convention’s misleading marketing! If we can get 100 people to join this Thunderclap by “donating” a tweet or a Facebook post in advance, our message to PDAC — using all of its own hashtags — will be impossible to ignore. Think of it like a social media flash mob! To sign up to the Thunderclap (and to learn more about how Thunderclaps work), click here.